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Happy at home - Littlefield Animal Project unites pets, owners

Volunteer group in Littlefield rescues abandoned pets, finds new homes

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Littlefield Animal Project president Tara Wegner shares some cuddle time with Baby May, a Chihuahua-rat terrier mix awaiting adoption through the project.

Ringo, a miniature Australian shepherd mix, is currently in foster care awaiting adoption through the Littlefield Animal Project.

LITTLEFIELD — A happy, healthy pit bull named Dodger has a loving home and a great set of two-legged companions.

It’s a far cry from the life of abuse and neglect he once faced — and the euthanasia his rescue prevented.

Dodger is one of hundreds of success stories from the Littlefield Animal Project, a nonprofit effort to save and rehome the town’s pet population.

Project volunteers found Dodger severely emaciated and barely alive, then provided him nutrition and veterinary care. While he recovered, they looked for a new home for him.

“One day we found a perfect family,” Tara Wegner, president of the organization, said.

Volunteers rescue dogs and cats from Littlefield’s animal shelter, from the streets and from owners who can no longer care for them. They place them in foster and adoptive homes by advertising them online and taking them to PetSmart.

Omar the chihuahua’s new home is another happy result of the project.

After local resident Melissa Guerrera adopted the tiny canine in February, he quickly developed a close friendship with her 2-year-old grandson, Justin.

“(They) are just inseparable — they’re like brothers,” she said. “He’s a really sweet dog. He’s really lovable and playful.”

Janabeth Bowen, another LAP member, pointed out the change in disposition she’s noticed in dogs with new families.

“They know when they’ve been rescued and adopted into a good home,” she said. “They’re very appreciative.”

Wegner estimates the project has saved about 1,000 dogs since it was formed two years ago.

“We try to rescue as many dogs as we can,” she said.

Like most area animal shelters, Littlefield’s lacks the resources to keep dogs and cats indefinitely and must control their population through euthanasia. The project began in effort to find alternatives to those procedures.

“Too many animals were being put down here,” Bowen said. “If they didn’t go home to their owners, they got put down in a few days.”

Patricia Patrick is a lifelong Littlefield resident who founded the project but has since left the group. She was inspired to seek change in the city’s animal services after she visited the shelter and found it unclean, she said.

“I went out to the animal shelter just to check on it, and it was in horrible condition,” she said. “...It was just nasty, and they killed them so fast. My heart was just broken.”

Patrick presented photographs of what she had found to city officials, suggesting they budget for a new, no-kill shelter.

“I wish they could do more for the animals there,” she said. “I wish they could get a new building or something to help these animals.”

As of news time, A-J Media was unable to reach city manager Mike Arismendez to find out if Patrick’s request would be financially feasible.

Patrick formed a meeting with like-minded Littlefield animal lovers, They established the project and got to work finding rescue homes.

“With all good intentions, I just wanted the animals taken care of,” she said.

Although membership has changed in the two years since then, project volunteers maintain the same philosophy of creating happy, healthy pets. They want their rescued animals to find homes, but not just any homes.

“We don’t encourage people to get a pet just because they can — we want it to be a perfect fit,” Wegner said.

The Littlefield Animal Project continues to seek new adoptive and foster parents, and donations to offset their veterinary costs. To help, call (806) 598-0375 or email lfdanimalproject@yahoo.com.

To see photos of pets available for adoption, search for Littlefield Animal Project on Facebook.